Is Drum Corps a sport?

[wcmello09]

It was on ESPN for a few years, that makes it a sport, right?

I would say, yes, it is a sport. Similar to figure skating, gymnastics, or synchronized swimming. It's not a sport where there is an offense or defense, instead you score your points by meeting a set criteria.

[Stu]

While true, there is no " competitive sport " in the world that has musicians called ' athletes " engaged in " sports competition ".

Most everyone here has stated, “They can call it what they want it”; and I agree that none of the DCI performers are ‘formally called' athletes. Nevertheless, that does not change the function of what they do as being identical to and in line with actually being an athlete. Contextually it is also the reason the character Andrew in The Breakfast Club was so ticked at Brian because it placed Andrew in the same type of conundrum; just because it was called a required uniform by those involved in wrestling, and not Tights, does not change the fact that the wrestling uniform actuality is ‘Tights’. And the same goes for DCI performers; they actually are athletes whether they are formally called so or not.

[Stu]

According to Brasso, within the activity of competitive drum corps they use musical instruments to compete with each other; no other competitive activity uses musical instruments as a fundamental aspect of their competition; that makes it unique from all other competitive activities; so competitive drum corps is therefore not a sport. If that line of reasoning is true, that an item which makes the activity unique unto itself disqualifies it from being a sport, then the following must apply… Within the completive activity of Fencing they use swords to combat each other; no other competitive activity uses swords as a fundamental aspect of their competition in that manner; that makes it unique from all other competitive activities; so you must also contend that Fencing is therefore not a sport via the same line of reasoning competitive drum corps is not considered a sport.

Edited April 7, 2014 by Stu

[KeithHall]

They run around like soccer players only faster

[Fred Windish]

This is what I like about DCI's new component label, SoundSport. It's perfect for all of this. Anyone know who came up with the name? He or she deserves credit. Here's a name that can carry us through all kinds of changes, and you know, more changes are coming!

OR . . . we could buy the 'Silly Putty' trademark and use that.

Edited April 7, 2014 by Fred Windish

[BRASSO]

It was on ESPN for a few years, that makes it a sport, right?

Well to follow that chronology for your personal qualifyer, its been " off ESPN for a few years, so that makes it NOT a sport now, right " ? DCI is in movie theatres now. Does this make it " Art " in a theatre now ? Or not ? Still a competiive " sport " ? but this alleged competitive " sport " with singers, dancers, musicians, etc is telecast live at the local theatres ? ( this is so silly, imo )

Edited April 7, 2014 by BRASSO

[bill]

The collective "mission statements" of every corps should offer the majority consensus of what the activity is actually deemed by the organizational participants themselves.

I think people would be hard pressed to find the word, "sport" in any of them.

[BRASSO]

Most everyone here has stated, “They can call it what they want it”;

Absolutely.. people DO have the right to call themselves whatever they want. There are Elvis Impersonators who call themselves, just that... " impersonators " . Most do. Then there are a handful of Elvis Impersonators who claim they are the real Elvis. Do they have the right to call themselves Elvis ? Sure, of course they do. Its a free country. They can claim they are Elvis. Its up to others to determine if what we name ourselves fits.. or doesn't square with reality.

Edited April 7, 2014 by BRASSO

[BRASSO]

According to Brasso, within the activity of competitive drum corps they use musical instruments to compete with each other; no other competitive activity uses musical instruments as a fundamental aspect of their competition; that makes it unique from all other competitive activities; so competitive drum corps is therefore not a sport. If that line of reasoning is true, that an item which makes the activity unique unto itself disqualifies it from being a sport, then the following must apply… Within the completive activity of Fencing they use swords to combat each other; no other competitive activity uses swords as a fundamental aspect of their competition in that manner; that makes it unique from all other competitive activities; so you must also contend that Fencing is therefore not a sport via the same line of reasoning competitive drum corps is not considered a sport.

Don't get lost in the weeds overanalyzing this stuff, Stu.... sometimes a cigar is just a cigar.

[BRASSO]

The collective "mission statements" of every corps should offer the majority consensus of what the activity is actually deemed by the organizational participants themselves.

I think people would be hard pressed to find the word, "sport" in any of them.

Exactly.. do people that participate in the competitive sport of fencing believe they are in competitive marching band when in competition ? ( this is silly season, so we re allowed on here to discuss all manner of silliness )